How Choose a topic of interest, spend a little time researching it, have a discussion then publish the notes - which are available on the site to read along!

Why The main benefits are the fostering of a greater understanding of the world before we die and hopefully, to prompt further thought and discussion from our listeners.

The topic we will be discussing in this episode is The very best of Stanley Kubrick

StanleyKubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, A Clockwork Orange & The ShiningHow about ‘The Very Best of Stanley Kubrick’? OK

Topic Overview

Whenever we see lists of ‘greatest’ anything to do with cinema, the name Stanley Kubrick will almost certainly be there and his paragraph will have words like ‘innovator’, ‘meticulous’, ‘control freak’, ‘freak’. He was freakish in the level of interest he would take into what he was working on, finely crafting every second of celluloid whether it was to appear in the final cut or not. His attention to detail and absolute perfectionism would win him frothing adoration from movie geeks and bemusement and incredulity from his actors and crew. And what of the box office? Contrary to popular assumption, his movies never initially set any records nor were they critically acclaimed. In fact it’s fair to say that the three movies we’re discussing today were slow burners with the possible exception of ‘A Clockwork Orange’ but that was withdrawn in the UK and only existed in notoriety until Kubrick’s death in 1999.

Just a moment … Just a moment … I’m detecting that I’ve reached the desired word count for this intro text.

Off-topic

What we’re not talking about

Corndogs

Talking Points

Each bullet is a talking point. Sub-bullets are topics that may or may not be covered. Usage: Read the bullet and sub-bullets then talk about some or all sub-bullets.

Biography of Kubrick (I think it’s relevant to explain that he was a photographer)

July 26, 1928 – March 7, 1999

Born in New York City, Jewish parents

3 daughters, one of whom died 2009, Anya Kubrick

Workaholic

For each film we should discus:

General overview

Kubrick is polarising

Timing, environmental factors

2001 (1968) The human condition as a species.

Reception

The Monolith, repeating pattern

A Clockwork Orange (1971) The battle between collectivism and individualism. The effects of personal and state intervention.

Black comedy

Controversy

Shining (1980) The precarious state of the mind and relationships. Hidden variables and influences.

Source material

Stephen King novel

Clarke’s short story ‘Sentinel’, novel written while filming

Anthony Burgess Novella

Acting

2001 Minimal, effective

Orange Cynical

Alex: Single minded, impulsive aesthete

McDowell’s invention

The writer victim: liberal theoretician

Shining Over the top

Jack Torrance

Danny

Dick Halloran

Soundtracks

2001

Alex North

Gyorgy Ligeti (a vampire)

Orange

Moog

Shining

Gyorgy Ligeti (a vampire)

Cinematography

Precision

Longevity

Themes and hidden meaning

Gold room

Concepts & science

Aliens

Satellites

Telepathy

Ludovico/Pavlov technique & accidentally music

What the films are like to watch, how they stand up today, holes etc etc.

Glossary

Terminology specific to the topic

Devotchka Woman

Droog(ie) Mate

Gulliver Head

HAL 9000 Heuristically programmed ALgorithmic computer

Horrorshow Awesome

Ludovico Technique Violence aversion therapy

Millicent Policeman

Nadsat Slang, Russian with Yiddish

Rassoodock Mind

Wrap Up

Details about site, contacts, next show: Customer Service?

Outro music choice - something open source or out of copyright so we don’t get sued

The Blue Danube Waltz by Johann Strauss II performed by Finnish orchestra Rytmi-Pojat. Made available to the public domain by copyright expiry and Creative Commons performance license.